Baseball News: 2012

Senin, 31 Desember 2012

Javier Vazquez May Return, Wants To Join Contender

« MLBTR Originals | Main | Quick Hits: Stanton, D'Backs, Upton, Pirates »

Javier Vazquez is pitching for Puerto Rico's Ponce Lions this winter and is planning to pitch for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic in March. Peter Gammons of MLB Network reported in November that Vazquez would gauge things during the WBC and see if he wants to make a comeback, but comments made to Ralph Pagan Archeval of ESPNDeportes.com indicate that he is heavily leaning towards a return.

"Winning the World Series, quite simply, is the only thing (I'm interested in). It's a team award, since I'm not interested in individual awards. In truth, what I'm missing is a World Series victory...If I decide (to play), it doesn't matter for what team, as long as they have a good possibility to get to the championship. I'm not going to sign with a team knowing that I'm going to lose," said Vazquez (translation courtesy of Nick Collias).

Vazquez was ranked as No. 19 in the 2012 free agent class by Tim Dierkes last winter and fielded phone calls from a number of clubs. The right-hander stopped short of announcing his retirement, leaving the door open for a comeback at some point. Vazquez, now 36, showed in 2011 that he still has a lot left to offer as he pitched to a 3.69 ERA with 7.6 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 in 32 starts for the Marlins. The veteran may prefer to spend 2013 with his family, but if he does, it won't be because of his health.

"My [physical] condition is very good. The most important thing is to keep count of the pitches and get that as high as I can. I've felt very good; better than I thought I was going to feel. I'll continue pitching and see what happens."

Quick Hits: Stanton, D'Backs, Upton, Pirates

« Javier Vazquez May Return, Wants To Join Contender | Main

The Marlins aren't in a rush to trade Giancarlo Stanton, but it remains highly unlikely that he will agree to a long-term contract, writes Joe Frisaro of MLB.com. It seems inevitable that he'll be moved sometime before he reaches free agency because the Miami is reloading its roster and will look to add as many quality pieces in the next few years as they can. Here's more from around baseball as Sunday becomes Monday..

The Diamondbacks are now overloaded with outfielders, but almost no one inside the industry is second-guessing General Manager Kevin Towers, writes Richard Justice of MLB.com. Many are wondering if the signing of Cody Ross means that Arizona has earmarked Justin Upton or Jason Kubel for a trade, but Justice believes that Towers will simply make the best deal he can and doesn't know which outfielder it's going to be.
The Joel Hanrahan trade benefits the Pirates by increasing the cost-effectiveness of their bullpen and allowing them to reallocate their savings to other areas of need, opines Eric Seidman of Fangraphs. By swapping Hanrahan for Mark Melancon and taking a flier on Francisco Liriano, the Bucs may be able to replicate the Hanrahan-Jason Grilli tandem's production at 30% of the cost while improving the rotation.
There are still big names for the Mariners on the trade block and free agent market and Jason A. Churchill of Prospect Insider looked at some of the possibilities.

Minggu, 30 Desember 2012

The 80-89 Win Club

« Poll: Will LaRoche Get A Three Year Deal? | Main | This Date In Transactions History: December 29 »

Last year, roughly one quarter of the teams in baseball won between 80 and 89 games and all of them missed the playoffs. This season, we saw the Tigers take the AL Central and the Cardinals grab the second NL Wild Card spot with 88 wins. Outside of that, you weren't invited to the party in 2012 if you had 80-something victories. What have those teams within striking distance done so far this winter to bulk up? As Ben Nicholson-Smith has done over the last two winters, I've broken those clubs in two groups with their 2012 win totals in parentheses and links that send you to the club's offseason transactions summary..

Aggressive Acquirers

Angels (89) - The Angels are one of two repeat customers this year, with the other being the Dodgers. After the Dodgers backed up a Brink's truck to sign Zack Greinke, the Halos went into best player available mode and inked Josh Hamilton to a five-year, $125MM deal. The Angels then took care of their logjam by trading Kendrys Morales to the Mariners for left-hander Jason Vargas. Meanwhile, their signings of Ryan Madson and Sean Burnett will also help to solidify the bullpen.
Dodgers (86) - We all knew the Dodgers were going to spend this winter, but it was still jarring to see how much they shelled out for Greinke. The six-year, $147MM deal landed them the top pitcher on the open market while plucking him away from their intra-market rival. They also added Hyun-Jin Ryu to the starting five and kept Brandon League in the pen with a three-year deal.
Diamondbacks (81) - The Angels didn't need need a boost in the outfield when they signed Hamilton and neither did the D'Backs when they landed Cody Ross on a three-year deal. Even after parting with Chris Young, the Diamondbacks still have Justin Upton, Jason Kubel, and Gerardo Parra in the fold with prospects Adam Eaton and A.J. Pollock waiting in the wings. It sounds like Upton or Kubel will be moved, and they'll bring back a solid return for Arizona. GM Kevin Towers also shook things up when he acquired shortstop Didi Gregorius, left-handed pitcher Tony Sipp, and first baseman Lars Anderson in a three-team deal.
Phillies (81) - The Phillies didn't make a major splash on the free agent market, but they did upgrade with a pair of significant trades early in December. The Phillies solved their third base vacancy when they got Michael Young from the Rangers. They were also in need of a center fielder and were heavily linked to Michael Bourn, but they instead went out and got Ben Revere from Minnesota for Vance Worley and Trevor May. They also picked up a pair of pitchers in the middle of the month in starter John Lannan and reliever Mike Adams.

Restrained Spenders

White Sox (85) - The White Sox finished three games behind the Tigers for the AL Central crown and they didn't opted against an overhaul heading into 2013. They got the offseason started with a two-year contract extension for Jake Peavy and so far their biggest free agent pickup is Jeff Keppinger on a three-year, $12MM deal.
Brewers (83) - Kyle Lohse remains unsigned, but don't expect the Brewers to make a play to keep him in the division. Milwaukee upgraded their pitching by signing Tom Gorzelanny last week and inking Mike Gonzalez to a one-year deal yesterday.

Poll: Will LaRoche Get A Three Year Deal?

« Orioles Remain In Contact With Joe Saunders | Main | The 80-89 Win Club »

Adam LaRoche wants to return to Washington and the Nationals want to bring the first baseman back. So what's LaRoche still doing on the open market? Well, the 33-year-old is looking for a three-year deal and the Nats say that they won't go beyond two years. They reportedly haven't felt pressured to consider a deal to keep LaRoche in D.C. through 2015, because they don't see another team offering him the same. It looked like General Manager Mike Rizzo & Co. were dead on about that, until recently, when the Red Sox's situation with Mike Napoli became cloudy.

Amidst concerns over Napoli's hip, the two sides have still yet to finalize their three-year, $39MM deal. Whether it's a play for leverage or legitimate concern over the catcher's health, Boston has begun talking to LaRoche as a plan B. Even though we're closing in on the New Year and LaRoche's market likely isn't what he expected, he's still not willing to budge on his demand for a three-year pact.

How do you see it playing out? Do you see the Nationals, Red Sox, or any other team giving LaRoche a three-year contract?

This Date In Transactions History: December 29

« The 80-89 Win Club | Main

Things tend to be fairly quiet between Christmas and New Year's Eve, but we've seen some big free agent signings go down during that week. Today marks the anniversary for two of them: Jason Bay signing with the Mets and Barry Zito to the Giants.

In the winter of 2009, the Mets agreed to a four-year, $66MM deal with former Red Sox slugger Jason Bay. The deal was panned by many critics at the time as they felt that the Mets were mortgaging their future with a heavily backloaded deal. The Mets agreed to give Bay $6.5MM in 2010 and $16MM in the following three seasons. The deal also included a $17MM club option for 2017, which could be 86'd for another $3MM. Of course, the two sides never got close to that point. After playing just 288 games across three seasons in Queens with a batting line of .234/.318/.369, the Mets and Bay agreed to an early expiration of his contract in November 2012. Bay will still earn the $21MM owed to him for the remainder of the deal, but the Mets will save a bit by being able to defer a portion of it.

Three years prior to that, the Giants made a statement when they signed Barry Zito to a seven-year, $126MM deal. At the time, the deal made the left-hander the highest paid pitcher in major league history. The deal was widely panned as an overpay and it's not clear how much the next-highest bidder was offering. The Rangers put a six-year, $80MM offer on the table and those spend-happy Yankees never got around to making a formal offer.

On the whole, Zito has struggled to pitch well consistently, but the left-hander found redemption last season. After pitching to a 4.15 ERA with 5.6 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 across 32 starts in the regular season, Zito shined in a pair of postseason starts for San Francisco, including a strong effort in Game 1 of the World Series to give the Giants a 1-0 advantage.

Can Bay re-write his story as well? The Mariners took a low-risk flyer on the veteran this winter, signing him to a one-year, $1MM deal with $2MM in performance bonuses. Bay now has a chance at a tabula rasa, away from the scrutiny of the New York press and a short drive from his home in Kirkland, Washington.

Sabtu, 29 Desember 2012

Padres Notes: Myers, Porcello, Headley, Cabrera

« This Date In Transactions History: December 28 | Main | Quick Hits: Indians, Matsui, Ethier, Sanchez »

Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune is back with his regular chat with fans about the Padres, and here are some of the relevant hot stove items...

The Padres have been talking to right-hander Brett Myers, according to Myers' agent. San Diego would use Myers as a starting pitcher, which is Myers' preferred role after spending 2012 coming out of the bullpen for the Astros and White Sox.
The Tigers are reconsidering trading Rick Porcello, who has drawn attention from the Padres and several other clubs since Detroit re-signed Anibal Sanchez. If Porcello is available, Center feels it would take more than a rumored trade package of Luke Gregerson and Jesus Guzman for the Padres to acquire the right-hander.
It's a "gamble on both sides" for Chase Headley and the Padres that there are apparently no extension talks taking place between the club and the third baseman. Headley is under team control for two more years, but a repeat of his 2012 numbers could make him too expensive for the Padres to lock up.
Everth Cabrera has drawn trade interest but most clubs (including the Padres) aren't sure if he is capable of being an everyday shortstop. Center notes that San Diego has been shopping "several" of its middle infielders this winter.
The Padres are "actively seeking" starting pitching but aren't going to be forced into making a bad signing just for the sake of adding an arm to the rotation.
Between Porcello, Shaun Marcum and Joe Saunders, Center lists Marcum as the most likely of the trio to be a Padre in 2013, followed by Saunders and Porcello in that order.
The Padres won't be adding another outfielder as they already have several options on the roster.
Center doesn't expect the Padres to have a $100MM payroll within the next few years, even adding an "if ever" to the idea.
The Padres want to bring back Dustin Moseley and Tim Stauffer on minor league contracts. The two pitchers elected to become free agents in October following injury-plagued 2012 seasons.
Center hasn't heard of the Padres having any interest in Carlos Zambrano.

This Date In Transactions History: December 28

« NL East Notes: Howell, LaRoche, Crisp, Marlins | Main | Padres Notes: Myers, Porcello, Headley, Cabrera »

Major transactions can occur at any time in baseball's offseason, even during the lull between Christmas and New Year's Eve. Let's look back at some of the major transactions that have taken place on past December 28ths over the years...

It was one year ago today that the Red Sox acquired Andrew Bailey and Ryan Sweeney from the Athletics in exchange for Josh Reddick and prospects Miles Head and Raul Alcantara. Boston had Bailey tapped as the team's replacement for Jonathan Papelbon at closer, but Bailey struggled with injuries and posted a 7.04 ERA in 19 games. Reddick, meanwhile, had a breakout year, winning a Gold Glove and hitting .242/.305/.463 with 32 homers to help lead the A's to the AL West pennant. Even if Bailey gets healthy and returns to form, a good closer doesn't have the value of a good (and controllable through 2016) everyday outfielder, so I'd say Oakland has won this trade already.
Jon Garland signed a three-year, $29MM contract to remain with the White Sox on this day in 2005. Garland never quite developed into anything more than a nice innings-eater, averaging 210 IP with a 4.37 ERA and 4.5 K/9 rate over the next two seasons. Chicago dealt Garland to the Angels for Orlando Cabrera following the 2007 season.
The Diamondbacks acquired their most beloved player in franchise history on this day in 1998, picking up Luis Gonzalez from the Tigers in exchange for Karim Garcia. Gonzalez had been a solid player for his first nine years in the majors but he exploded in Arizona, posting a 1.001 OPS over the next three seasons including a 57-homer outburst in 2001. Gonzalez is best remembered for his walkoff bloop single against Mariano Rivera in Game Seven of the legendary 2001 World Series. Garcia, meanwhile, had a .708 OPS in 104 games with Detroit before being dealt during the 2000 season.
Tim Raines is in the news due to his Hall of Fame candidacy, and it was on this day in 1995 that Raines was dealt from the White Sox to the Yankees for future considerations. Raines was 36 years old at the time of the trade but he still had plenty of value as a platoon player, hitting .299/.395/.429 in 940 PAs over his three seasons in New York and winning two World Series rings.
The Astros and Padres swung a whopper of a trade on this day in 1994, with 12 players eventually changing teams once all was settled. Houston acquired Derek Bell, Ricky Gutierrez, Pedro Martinez (not that one), Phil Plantier and Craig Shipley while San Diego picked up Ken Caminiti, Andujar Cedeno, Sean Fesh (as a player to be named later), Steve Finley, Roberto Petagine and Brian Williams.
Warren Cromartie surprised many by instead signing a three-year, $2.5MM deal with the Yomiuri Giants on this day in 1983, a rare case of a player going to Japan in his prime. (Baseball Reference believes collusion may have played a role in Cromartie not finding a good Major League offer.) Cromartie played in Japan for seven seasons and wrote a book about his experiences in the NPL following his retirement.
Danny O'Connell may not be well-remembered today, but the infielder was so highly-sought by the Braves that they sent six players and $100K to the Pirates in exchange for O'Connell on this day in 1953. It remains the only six-for-one trade in Major League history, topped only by the A's dealing Vida Blue to the Giants for seven players in 1978. O'Connell, by the way, didn't quite live up to the hype in Milwaukee. He posted a .647 OPS in three-plus years with the Braves and was part of a trade package sent to the Giants partway through the 1957 season for Red Schoendienst, who ended up playing a key role in the Braves' 1957 World Series run.

Quick Hits: Indians, Matsui, Ethier, Sanchez

« Padres Notes: Myers, Porcello, Headley, Cabrera | Main

The Indians are the latest team to get a financial boost from a new TV contract, as the club announced that it has sold SportsTime Ohio (and the broadcasting rights to Indians games) to FOX Sports Media Group. The Tribe's contract with FOX will run for at least 10 years and the team will receive at least $400MM over the course of the deal, according to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The Indians will get $40MM from FOX in 2013, up from the $33MM the team received from STO in 2012. While it isn't the multi-billion dollar deal that other teams have received in recent TV rights deals, the extra funds have already played a role in the Indians' operations, namely the $56MM contract given to Nick Swisher.

Here are some items from around baseball as we head into the final weekend of 2012...

Hideki Matsui told reporters (including Anthony McCarron of the New York Daily News) that he received offers from several Japanese teams but decided to retire since he felt he wasn't able to play up his standards. Amongst Major League clubs, only the Astros were known to have shown any interest in Matsui this winter.
The Mariners could be in on Andre Ethier, tweets CBS Sports' Jon Heyman, though there is "no real evidence" that the Dodgers have any interest in dealing the right fielder.
Matt Sosnick, agent for infielder Freddy Sanchez, tells Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that his client is healthy and has received some interest from teams, though no offers. Sanchez, 35, has been plagued by injuries over the last two seasons and was limited to just 10 minor league plate appearances in 2012.
The Brewers signed righty Alfredo Figaro to a minor league deal last week but they were unaware that Figaro's rights were still controlled by the NPL's Orix Buffaloes, reports MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. Milwaukee assistant GM Gord Ash said that the Brewers have told Orix that they will retract their offer if the Buffaloes choose to retain Figaro.
ESPN's Jim Bowden lists five possible transactions that he thinks make sense for contending teams, such as the Cardinals trading for Carlos Gonzalez or the Orioles signing Kyle Lohse.
Twins assistant GM Rob Antony tells La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star Tribune that the team could still make further additions to its pitching depth. "I wouldn't say we're done," Antony said. "I wouldn't say were pushing hard. We have our feelers out there. If the situation is right, we could do something else. If not, we're OK too.'' Minnesota has already added Kevin Correia, Rich Harden, Mike Pelfrey and Vance Worley this winter but Neal doesn't think the team is willing to give a two-year, $14-$15MM contract to the likes of Joe Saunders, Shaun Marcum or Brett Myers.

Jumat, 28 Desember 2012

Cubs Agree To Sign Hisanori Takahashi

« Poll: The Red Sox & Mike Napoli | Main | Yankees Links: Hairston, Hughes, Wakamatsu »

The Cubs have agreed to sign Hisanori Takahashi to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training, reports Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports (on Twitter). The veteran left-hander is a Wasserman Media Group client.

Takahashi, 37, pitched to a 5.54 ERA with 9.3 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9 in 50 1/3 relief innings for the Angels and Pirates last season. He owns a 3.97 ERA in 240 1/3 MLB innings, making 12 starts and 153 relief appearances. Takahashi has held big league lefties to a .238/.283/.381 batting line with a 4.14 K/BB.

Poll: The Red Sox & Mike Napoli

« Diamondbacks Notes: Upton, Kubel, Ross | Main | Cubs Agree To Sign Hisanori Takahashi »

It has been 24 days since the Red Sox and Mike Napoli agreed to a three-year contract worth $39MM. The two sides have been unable to finalize the deal due to a hip issue that popped up during the physical, and the team is reportedly trying to put some protective language into the pact. They've used similar clauses in contracts for J.D. Drew and John Lackey.

Earlier today we learned the Red Sox have been talking to Adam LaRoche, a free agent first baseman who would be a viable alternative to Napoli. A few hours later we heard that Napoli's representatives have had talks with at least one other team. Both reports could just be one side trying to gain leverage over the other, or they could be an indication the agreement is falling apart and they've both begun to look for alternatives.

With the calendar just about ready to flip over to 2013, unsigned free agents will soon begin to scramble to find jobs for next season. Teams will also start to scramble for solutions to their remaining roster holes since Spring Training will be just six weeks away. Neither Napoli nor the Red Sox want this thing to drag out any longer, so a resolution should come relatively soon one way or the other.

Yankees Links: Hairston, Hughes, Wakamatsu

« Cubs Agree To Sign Hisanori Takahashi | Main

Hideki Matsui announced his retirement from baseball after ten years in MLB today, seven of which were spent in New York with the Yankees. Here's the latest from the Bronx...

Even after signing Matt Diaz to a minor league contract, the Yankees remain interested in Scott Hairston according to Kevin Kernan of The New York Post. The club is seeking a right-handed bat to complement their all-lefty hitting outfield.
Phil Hughes could price himself out of New York with a strong season in 2013, opines Joel Sherman of The New York Post. The right-hander is due to become a free agent next winter and the Yankees are looking to get under the $189MM luxury tax threshold in 2014.
Within the same piece, Sherman notes the Yankees will own three of the top 35 and four of the top 65 or so picks in next June's amateur draft. They're slated to receive compensation picks for Nick Swisher and Rafael Soriano.
The Yankees have added former Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu to their pro scouting staff, reports Ken Davidoff of The New York Post (on Twitter).

Kamis, 27 Desember 2012

AL East Notes: Red Sox, Yankees, Diaz

« AL West Notes: Astros, Rangers, Pierzynski | Main | Red Sox Talking To Adam LaRoche »

Links on the Yankees and Red Sox as Wednesday becomes Thursday..

Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe (on Twitter) sees several tradeable pieces on the Red Sox roster. Among them are the club's spare catchers (Ryan Lavarnway or Jarrod Saltalamacchia), Alfredo Aceves, Andrew Bailey, or one of their left-handed relievers. Abraham isn't sure what those pieces could net Boston in return, however.
The Yankees' signing of Matt Diaz to a minor league deal likely won't end their search for a right-handed hitting outfield option, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweets. Diaz's deal will be worth $1.2MM if he reaches the majors with the chance to earn an additional $800K in incentives.
Diaz could be primed for a bounce-back year as his agents at Reynolds Sports Management (on Twitter) point out that the outfielder's recurring thumb issues are behind him. Diaz's slash line over the last two years has been .251/.295/.326 versus .301/.350/.456 in the previous eight seasons.

AL West Notes: Astros, Rangers, Pierzynski

« Hanrahan Trade Reactions: Bailey, Melancon, Grilli | Main | AL East Notes: Red Sox, Yankees, Diaz »

The Astros will have a new division, sharp new logo, and some new faces as well in 2013. Chip Bailey of the Houston Chronicle looked at three areas of change for the club and asked if they are truly upgrades. The move to install Jose Veras as the team's closer given his lack of experience in finishing games is something of a head scratcher for Bailey. The Astros surprised a lot of people when they signed Carlos Pena to a one-year, $2.9MM deal, money that may have been better spent elsewhere. However, Bailey tips his cap to General Manager Jeff Luhnow for his efforts to upgrade the club's rotation. Houston made a trio of low-risk gambles in Alex White, Philip Humber, and John Ely. Here's more out of the AL West..

At today's introductory press conference for A.J. Pierzynski, Rangers General Manager Jon Daniels said that there is a decent chance that they'll add another bat, tweets Anthony Andro of FOX Sports Southwest.
Rangers skipper Ron Washington told reporters that incumbent Geovany Soto will get some playing time but Pierzynski will be the club's No. 1 catcher, Andro tweets. The club re-signed Soto to a one-year, $2.75MM deal with $250K in incentives.
Pierzynski says that he came to Texas in part because of his affinity for playing there and the climate (Twitter link).

Red Sox Talking To Adam LaRoche

« AL East Notes: Red Sox, Yankees, Diaz | Main

The Red Sox are talking with free agent Adam LaRoche, two sources tell Jen Royle of SB Nation Boston (via Twitter). LaRoche is seeking a three-year deal and a third source tells Royle that he's still not willing to compromise on contract length.

LaRoche would be the alternative to signing Mike Napoli, but major league sources tell Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports that Boston would prefer to complete their deal with the backstop. The Red Sox haven't given any official word on why the deal with Napoli hasn't been completed, but sources say that an issue with one of Napoli's hips has given the club pause. There's an agreement in place for a three-year, $39MM deal, but the Red Sox could simply walk from it since it has not been finalized.

If the Red Sox did sign LaRoche, Rosenthal writes that Napoli would go back into the market and likely accept a shorter, cheaper deal, possibly from the Rangers. The Nationals would fill the void interally by moving Michael Morse to first base and go with an outfield of Bryce Harper in left, Denard Span in center, and Jayson Werth in right. However, Napoli remains Boston's preference in part because signing LaRoche would cost a second-round pick.

The Napoli problem is familiar territory for Boston as they put language in the contracts of right fielder J.D. Drew and right-hander John Lackey to protect from pre-existing medical conditions. According to sources, the Red Sox are working to get Napoli to agree to similar protection in his deal.

Rabu, 26 Desember 2012

Few Innings Eaters Remain In Free Agency

« Poll: Which Top 50 Free Agent Will Sign Next? | Main | Quick Hits: Yankees, Royals, Orioles, Hochevar »

You might think that finding an innings eater is a simple task, but there were ten teams last season that didn't have a single pitcher crack the 200 inning plateau*. It helps tremendously to have a pitcher who can give you that level of output. Statistically, the Blue Jays (73-89) had one of the weaker bullpens in baseball last season with a combined 4.33 ERA with 8.58 K/9 and 3.51 BB/9. However, their relievers were asked to cover 527 and 2/3 innings. Had they gotten more work out of their starting rotation, their pen would have had more time to rest and as a result likely would have performed better.

At this point in the offseason, most of the durable starters are off the market. The Angels picked up on this last week when they flipped Kendrys Morales for Seattle's Jason Vargas, who has logged 611 innings across the last three seasons. In fact, the only pitcher still available on the open market who pitched more than 200 innings in 2012 is Kyle Lohse, who delivered 211 IP for the Cardinals last season. Obviously, Lohse will be expected to bring more to the table than just soaking up innings and his contract will reflect that. Teams looking to get creative can look to a couple of other available names who have demonstrated the ability to go deep into games in years past.

Brett Myers was converted into a reliever in 2012 but says that he hopes to start (and, presumably, command starter money) again in 2013. The right-hander logged 439 innings between 2010 and 2011 for the Astros. Shaun Marcum missed a large part of last season with elbow issues, but he hovered around 200 innings in the two years prior to that. Left-hander Joe Saunders missed the cut in 2012 (174.2 IP), but had no trouble earning the innings eater label in '10 and '11.

At this time last winter, Saunders, Hiroki Kuroda, and Edwin Jackson stood as the only true innings eaters left available on the market. There are even fewer free agent options this time around for teams hoping to ease the burden on their bullpen.

*Nationals' innings leader Gio Gonzalez came dangerously close as he pitched 199 and 1/3 innings. The Rockies are one of the nine clubs, but it should be noted that they earned this distinction by design with their "Project 5,183" system.

Poll: Which Top 50 Free Agent Will Sign Next?

« Checking In On Baseball's Lowest Scoring Offenses | Main | Few Innings Eaters Remain In Free Agency »

As we approach the New Year, seven of Tim Dierkes' Top 50 free agents remain unsigned. Michael Bourn (#3), Kyle Lohse (#10), Adam LaRoche (#15), Rafael Soriano (#17), Shaun Marcum (#19), Joe Saunders (#25), and Jose Valverde (#44) are still on the market and most seem to be drawing a great deal of interest. It's possible that Mike Napoli (#14) re-enters the fray if his deal with the Red Sox falls through, though one has to imagine that Boston would have bailed entirely at this point if they were overly concerned about his health.

Bourn, Lohse, Soriano, and Valverde are all represented by Scott Boras, who is comfortable with waiting for the right deal. We also know that he has a knack for digging up unexpected suitors, so maybe we shouldn't shy away from picking Lohse in this poll despite his cloudy market. Of the seven top 50 free agents left, who is going to put pen to paper first?

Quick Hits: Yankees, Royals, Orioles, Hochevar

« Few Innings Eaters Remain In Free Agency | Main

MLBTR would like to wish all of our readers a very Merry Christmas. Here's tonight's look around baseball..

Yankees catcher Austin Romine could make an impact this season following the departure of Russell Martin, writes MLB.com's Bernie Pleskoff. Martin signed a two-year, $17MM deal with the Pirates in November. The Yankees still could make a play for a starting catcher, but as it stands, they'll head into spring training with Romine, Chris Stewart, and Francisco Cervelli.
Royals left fielder Alex Gordon appreciates the moves that General Manager Dayton Moore has made in order to win in the short-term, writes Pete Grathoff of the Kansas City Star. 'To be honest, it seems like we've been sitting on prospects the last six years...It's given them that option to be able to do that and go get a guy like James Shields and some of the other guys they've picked up. Yeah, it's a risk-reward, but it's something that you sometimes need to pull off," said the soon-to-be 29-year-old. Gordon is signed through the next three seasons with a player option in 2016.
Some have theorized that the Orioles won't be able to bank on the good fortune that they enjoyed last season in 2013, but Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com notes that the club has plenty of setbacks to overcome. The O's roadblocks led them to go through 52 players in the regular season and 178 roster moves in total.
While many Royals fans would like to see them dump Luke Hochevar and Jeff Francoeur, Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star (on Twitter) doesn't see either player being given away for nothing. Either player could be traded, but Kansas City will want something of consequence in return. The Royals reportedly called the Rockies about Hochevar earlier this month, but nothing materialized from those talks.
Buster Olney of ESPN.com (Insider sub. req'd) looked ahead to the biggest storylines of 2013. The Blue Jays now find themselves at center stage after acquiring R.A. Dickey, Jose Reyes, Josh Johnson, Mark Buehrle, and others this offseason. The Dodgers will also feel immense pressure to win as they'll claim the highest payroll in baseball in 2013.
Left-hander Scott Kazmir is grateful for another shot at the major leagues, writes Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle. The soon-to-be 29-year-old inked a minor league deal with the Indians late last week. Kazmir last pitched at an All-Star level in 2008, when he posted a 3.49 ERA with 9.8 K/9 and 4.1 BB/9.

Selasa, 25 Desember 2012

Betancourt Receiving Interest From Four Clubs

« Rays Still Searching For A Bat | Main | AL East Notes: Yankees, Red Sox, Hanrahan »

Yuniesky Betancourt is one of the remaining free agents on the market who displayed better-than-average power in 2012. Agent Alex Esteban of Miami Sports Management tells MLBTR that his client is drawing a good amount of interest that will result in a major league deal.

"I can assure you that Yuni will be signing a Major League contract. Currently, there are four teams we are in conversations with and we expect to be finalizing a deal shortly after the holidays," Esteban said.

Betancourt, 31 in January, spent 57 games with the Royals last season, posting a .228/.256/.400 batting line with seven homers. The infielder was reportedly on the Cubs' radar earlier this month as a third base option.

AL East Notes: Yankees, Red Sox, Hanrahan

« Betancourt Receiving Interest From Four Clubs | Main | Remaining Free Agent Strikeout Relievers »

Right-hander Derek Lowe wasn't off to a great start in 2012 but managed to finish out the year strong with the Yankees after signing in August. The veteran posted a 5.52 ERA with 3.1 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 in 21 starts for the Indians but had a 3.04 ERA with 5.3 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 in pinstripes as a reliever. However, as we learned earlier today, he's still looking for an opportunity to start. Here's more out on the Yanks and the rest of the AL East..

The Yankees may be a team in transition, but Richard Justice of MLB.com refuses to count them out in 2013. For the Bombers to win, however, they'll need a right-handed hitting outfielder to balance their three left-handed hitting outfielders. They also need the newly-acquired Kevin Youkilis, who was signed to fill-in for Alex Rodriguez while he recovers from hip surgery, to stay healthy.
The Red Sox's trade for Joel Hanrahan could signal that the front office believes that they can contend next season, writes Alex Speier of WEEI.com. If the deal is built around a player other than Hanrahan who can be controlled for multiple years, then that may not be the exact case. But if Hanrahan is the true centerpiece of the swap and the other player is more of a complementary piece, then it could mean that Boston expects to win next year.
The Red Sox won't be announcing any of their pending moves over the next couple of days, according to Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe (on Twitter). That would presumably pertain to the aforementioned Hanrahan trade and the delayed Mike Napoli deal.

Remaining Free Agent Strikeout Relievers

« AL East Notes: Yankees, Red Sox, Hanrahan | Main

There are more than 40 unsigned free agent relievers at this stage of the offseason, but not all of those relievers are strikeout guys. To zero in on the strikeout artists left on the market, let's take a look at the leaders in K/9 and K% in 2012.

You're probably familiar with K/9, which is strikeouts per nine innings. The league average was 7.56 K/9 last season, and Craig Kimbrel led all qualified relievers with 16.66 K/9. The second metric, K%, measures the percentage of batters faced that the pitcher struck out. The league average was 19.8% in 2012, and Kimbrel also topped that mountain at 44.0%.

The K/9 and K% leaderboards are predictably similar, but not identical. More efficient pitchers will have a higher K%, even though they may have a lower K/9 than their baserunner-prone counterparts. Here are lists of unsigned free agent relievers with above average K/9 and K% rates.

Strikeouts Per Nine Innings (K/9)

Jason Frasor - 10.92
Mike Gonzalez - 9.84
Manny Parra - 9.36
Hisanori Takahashi - 9.30
Brandon Lyon - 9.30
Vicente Padilla - 9.18
Rafael Soriano - 9.18
Francisco Rodriguez - 9.00
Juan Cruz - 8.33
Matt Lindstrom - 7.66
Kevin Gregg - 7.63

Just missing the cut was Rays left-hander J.P. Howell, who posted a 7.51 K/9 rate in 2012 to go along with a 3.04 ERA and 3.9 BB/9. Howell has drawn interest from the Nationals, Phillies, Cubs, Mariners, and Rangers this winter.

Strikeouts Per Batter Faced (K%)

Frasor - 27.8%
Gonzalez - 25.8%
Soriano - 24.7%
Takahashi - 24.5%
Lyon - 24.4%
Rodriguez - 23.6%
Padilla - 23.4%
Parra - 22.3%
Howell - 20.7%
Cruz - 20.4%
Lindstrom - 20.0%

That's a bit of redemption for Howell, as he posted an above-average K% while Gregg (18.5%) missed the mark. That essentially means that Howell was more efficient and struck out a higher percentage of the batters he faced. Chad Durbin was just left on the outside-looking-in with a 19.1% posting.

Special thanks to Mike Axisa, who compiled a similar post last year.

Senin, 24 Desember 2012

Yankees Notes: Cashman, Ibanez, Diaz, Payroll

« MLBTR Originals | Main | Week In Review: 12/16/12 -12/22/12 »

Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News looks at the Yankees' offseason so far and examines deals the team hasn't made given budgetary concerns (all Twitter links)...

Yankees GM Brian Cashman blames the team's lack of pursuit of Raul Ibanez on the club's priority of acquiring a right-handed hitting outfielder. Beyond finding an outfielder, Cashman says that the team does not have an unlimited budget and must work within its means.
Feinsand points to right-handed outfielder Matt Diaz as a potential fit for the Yankees. Diaz has regained his health, should be an inexpensive sign and would bring a career batting line against lefties of .324/.364/.498.
The Yankees will open the 2013 season with a payroll over $200MM but remain in a situation similar to last year where Cashman had to move expensive contracts before adding anyone new.

Week In Review: 12/16/12 -12/22/12

« Yankees Notes: Cashman, Ibanez, Diaz, Payroll | Main

The Mets sold high on R.A. Dickey after the 38-year-old knuckleballer's Cy Young season, trading him to the Blue Jays as part of a seven-player deal. Toronto will receive Dickey, Josh Thole and Mike Nickeas in exchange for John Buck and prospects Travis d'Arnaud, Noah Syndergaard and Wuilmer Becerra. As part of the deal, Toronto has also agreed to a three-year extension with Dickey.
The Tigers agreed to sign free agent right-hander Anibal Sanchez to a five-year contract worth $80MM that includes a 2018 club option. Sanchez posted a 3.86 ERA with 7.7 K/9, 2.2 BB/9 and a 46.4% ground ball rate in 195 2/3 regular season innings this past season.
The Mariners and Raul Ibanez agreed to a one-year contract worth $2.75MM with another 1.25MM in incentive performances. The ACES client played in Seattle from 1996-2000 and 2004-2008.
Arizona officially signed Cody Ross to a three-year contract with a fourth year club option. The deal is worth $26MM, which includes a $1MM buyout of the option.
The Pirates agreed to sign free agent left-hander Francisco Liriano to a two-year, $12.75MM contract. Liriano pitched for the Twins and White Sox this past season, posting a 5.34 ERA with 9.6 K/9, 5.0 BB/9 and a 43.8% ground ball rate in 156 2/3 innings.
The Indians reached a minor league deal with Scott Kazmir. Cleveland is taking a low-risk chance on the left-hander following his strong performance in Puerto Rico this winter.
Jeremy Bonderman agreed to a minor league deal with the Mariners, with an invitation to spring training. The right-hander dropped 35 pounds from his frame and is set to start throwing again in January.
The Astros signed right-handed reliever Jose Veras to a one-year contract worth $2MM. In 72 appearances for Milwaukee in 2012, Veras posted a 3.63 ERA with 10.6 K/9, 5.4 BB/9 and a 43.8% ground ball rate in 67 innings.
The Cubs agreed to a one-year deal with outfielder Nate Schierholtz worth $2.25MM with $500K in incentives. Schierholtz hit .257/.321/.407 in 269 plate appearances for the Giants and Phillies this year, playing mostly right field.
The Brewers signed free-agent left-hander Tom Gorzelanny to a two-year contract worth $5.75MM. Gorzelanny appeared in 45 games for the Nationals this past season, posting a 2.88 ERA with 7.8 K/9, 3.8 BB/9 and a 42.9% ground ball rate in 72 innings.
Free agent infielder Casey McGehee agreed to play in Japan for the Rakuten Eagles next season. The veteran will receive at one-year deal worth $1.5MM with incentives up to $500K.
The Twins signed free agent starter Rich Harden to a minor league contract that includes an invitation to MLB Spring Training. Harden last pitched at the MLB level in 2011, posting a 5.12 ERA with 9.9 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 in 82 2/3 innings for the Athletics.
The Rangers and A.J. Pierzynski agreed to terms on a one-year deal worth $7.5MM. The catcher posted a .278/.326/.501 batting line in 520 plate appearances with 27 home runs in 2012.
The Cubs agreed to sign Edwin Jackson to a four-year, $52MM contract. The 29-year-old spent the 2012 season with the Nationals, posting a 4.03 ERA with 8.0 K/9, 2.8 BB/9 and a 47.3% ground ball rate in 189 2/3 regular season innings.
The Marlins signed Placido Polanco to a one-year contract. The 37-year-old hit 15 doubles and posted a .257/.302/.327 batting line in 328 plate appearances this past season.
The Phillies officially signed veteran reliever Mike Adams. It's a two-year contract worth $12MM with a third year club/vesting option worth $6.5MM.
The Twins signed right-hander Mike Pelfrey to a one-year, $4MM contract. The former Wichita State star can also earn up to $1.5MM in incentives.
The Cubs agreed to sign Carlos Villanueva to a two-year, $10MM deal. Villanueva, 29, pitched to a 4.16 ERA with 8.8 K/9 and 3.3 BB/9 in 125 1/3 innings spread across 16 starts and 22 relief appearances for the Blue Jays last season.
The Rockies re-signed lefty Jeff Francis. It's a one-year contract worth $1.5MM guaranteed with another $1.5M in incentives based on innings pitched.
The Yankees officially re-signed Ichiro Suzuki to a two-year contract worth $13MM. Ichiro has 2,606 hits, two batting titles, ten All-Star Game selections and a career .322/.365/.419 in 12 MLB seasons.
Two AL West rivals agreed to exchange prominent players in a deal that will address major needs for both clubs. The Mariners and Angels agreed to a trade that will send Kendrys Morales to Seattle for left-hander Jason Vargas.
The Giants and right-hander Santiago Casilla agreed to a three-year, $15MM contract with a vesting option for a fourth season. The deal will pay Casilla $4.5MM in 2013 and 2014 and $5MM in 2015, plus a $1MM buyout for 2016 if his option doesn't vest.
The Rays signed free agent right-hander Roberto Hernandez to a one-year, Major League contract. The deal, worth $3.25MM including $1.85MM in incentives, some of which are based on innings and some of which are based on relief appearances.
The Indians signed Mark Reynolds to a one-year contract. The deal is worth $6MM and could reach $7.5MM if Reynolds reaches his performance incentives.
The Phillies agreed to sign left-hander John Lannan to a one-year, $2.5MM contract. The deal includes another $2.5M in bonuses.
The Athletics traded outfielder Collin Cowgill to the Mets for minor league infielder Jefry Marte, the team announced. The trade frees up a 40-man roster spot for Oakland, who officially announced the Hiroyuki Nakajima signing as well.
The Red Sox signed reliever Koji Uehara to a one-year deal worth $4.25MM. Uehara, 38 in April, posted a 1.75 ERA, 10.8 K/9, 0.8 BB/9, 1.00 HR/9, and 32.5% groundball rate in 36 innings this year, missing time with a strained lat muscle.
The Astros agreed to sign Carlos Pena to a one-year contract worth $2.9MM. The Scott Boras client can earn another $1.4MM in incentives.
The Red Sox agreed to sign free agent shortstop Stephen Drew to a one-year contract worth $9.5MM plus up to $500K in incentives. He posted a .223/.309/.348 batting line with seven home runs in 327 plate appearances for the Diamondbacks and Athletics this past season.

Minggu, 23 Desember 2012

Quick Hits: Livan, Grilli, Swisher, Hairston, Rangers

« Minor Moves: Gordon, Hoey, Quinowski | Main

Condolences go out to the family and friends of former Major League utility man Ryan Freel. The 36-year-old was found dead at his home today after taking his own life according to Chad Cushnir of First Coast News and MLB.com's Mark Sheldon. Freel spent most of his career with the Reds, though he also suited up for the Blue Jays, Royals, Cubs, and Orioles.

Here's the latest from around the league as Saturday turns into Sunday...

Livan Hernandez told MLB.com's Bill Ladson that he plans to play in 2013 (Twitter link). The 37-year-old right-hander posted a 6.42 ERA in 67 1/3 relief innings for the Braves and Brewers last season.
Jason Grilli will take over as closer for the Pirates following the Joel Hanrahan trade according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (Twitter links). Heyman notes the right-hander does not have any bonuses based on games finished in his new contract.
Nick Swisher is giving "serious consideration" to the four-year, $52MM offer from the Indians according to ESPN's Jim Bowden (on Twitter). The switch-hitting outfielder prefers the Dodgers, Angels, or Yankees though.
The Phillies, Braves, Mets, and Yankees are among the teams still in play for Scott Hairston, reports Heyman (on Twitter). Heyman says the Yankees may be at a disadvantage because they already have three starting outfielders.
In today's Insider-only blog post, ESPN's Buster Olney says the Rangers should not overreact and drastically alter their plan after failing to land several top targets this offseason.

Astros Not Close To Signing Jose Lopez

« News & Reactions Following The Cody Ross Signing | Main | Minor Moves: Gordon, Hoey, Quinowski »

10:50pm: Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter) there is nothing going on between Lopez and the Astros. GM Jeff Luhnow told MLB.com's Brian McTaggart they are not in 'active discussions at this time with free agents.'

5:46pm: The Astros are close to signing Jose Lopez according to Carlos Gonzalez Lovito at the Venezuelan sports blog Sin Uniforme. MLBTR's Nick Collias provided the translation.

"On December 26th I'm going to fly to Houston," said Lopez at a press conference. "Nothing is firm yet, but I might have to stop playing (in the Venezuelan winter leagues). Everything depends on the physical exams."

Lopez, 29, hit .246/.270/.356 with four homers in 248 plate appearances with the Indians and White Sox last season while playing right field in addition to first, second, and third bases. His numbers against left-handers were a bit more respectable (.277/.293/.415). Lopez is represented by Martin Arburua.

Minor Moves: Gordon, Hoey, Quinowski

« Astros Not Close To Signing Jose Lopez | Main | Quick Hits: Livan, Grilli, Swisher, Hairston, Rangers »

Here are the day's minor moves...

The Athletics have signed Brian Gordon to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training, reports Ken Davidoff of The New York Post (on Twitter). The 34-year-old made two starts with the Yankees in 2011 before heading to Korea, where he pitched in 2012.
The Brewers have signed right-hander Jim Hoey to a minor league deal, reports MLB.com's Adam McCalvy (Twitter links). The 29-year-old righty owns a 7.02 ERA in 59 career big league innings with the Orioles and Twins. Hoey was part of the trade that sent J.J. Hardy to Baltimore.
The Orioles have purchased the contract of David Quinowski from the independent Lincoln Salt Dogs, reports Rich Dubroff of CSNBaltimore.com (on Twitter). The 26-year-old left-hander spend six seasons in the Giants' system before spending last year on the indy circuit.
Baseball America's Matt Eddy posted a full recap of last week's minor league moves.

Sabtu, 22 Desember 2012

Central Notes: White Sox, Floyd, Brewers, Lohse

« Olney On Saunders, Hairston, Hanrahan, Howell | Main | Quick Hits: Mariners, Bonderman, Athletics »

Items out of the AL and NL Central..

The White Sox are looking around for a left-handed hitter, according to Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). The club has also made it known once again that Gavin Floyd is available. Interest in the right-hander is said to be high and the Orioles are one of the clubs who have him on the radar.
It doesn't sound like the Brewers are going to be making a run at Kyle Lohse after GM Doug Melvin explained that the team is "getting down to the end" of adding players, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com tweets. Lohse looks to be the top starter available following Edwin Jackson's four-year deal with the Cubs.
Twins General Manager Terry Ryan isn't sure if Rich Harden will be slotted in as a starter or a reliever, tweets Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. 'It depends on how he responds. We could go either way with him," said the GM. Harden signed a minor league deal with Minnesota this morning that includes a MLB spring training invite.

Quick Hits: Mariners, Bonderman, Athletics

« Central Notes: White Sox, Floyd, Brewers, Lohse | Main | Orioles, Mariners, Padres Talking To Joe Saunders »

On this date in 2007, the Reds traded Josh Hamilton to the Rangers for Danny Herrera and Edinson Volquez. Here's tonight's look around baseball..

Jeremy Bonderman told Geoff Baker of The Seattle Times (on Twitter) that he'll get a shot at cracking the Mariners' starting rotation. He adds that the M's did not go out to see him throw prior to signing him.
The Athletics asked to remain in the Oakland Coliseum for five more years in a proposed agreement that would delay the target for their move to San Jose until 2018, writes Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times. The A's lease is currently set to expire after this season. The club has waited almost four years for Commissioner Bud Selig to approve or reject the proposed move to San Jose.
Cuban prospects Aledmys Diaz and Dariel Alvarez are working out in Mexicali, Mexico and will audition for scouts on January 5th, a source tells Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com (on Twitter). Alvarez, a 24-year-old outfielder, and 22-year-old shortstop Diaz were profiled by Sanchez in November.

Orioles, Mariners, Padres Talking To Joe Saunders

« Quick Hits: Mariners, Bonderman, Athletics | Main

Free agent left-hander Joe Saunders is talking to the Orioles, Mariners, and Padres according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter). The Pirates also had interest, but the Francisco Liriano signing presumably takes them out of the running.

Saunders, 31, pitched to a 4.07 ERA in 174 2/3 innings for the Diamondbacks and Orioles this season. He posted his typically low strikeout (5.8 K/9) and walk (2.0 BB/9) rates to go along with the lowest full season ground ball rate of his career (43.1%). MLBTR's Tim Dierkes ranked the veteran southpaw as the 25th best free agent available this winter, predicting he would re-sign with Baltimore.

Jumat, 21 Desember 2012

AL East Notes: Red Sox, Saltalamacchia, Yankees

« Quick Hits: Saunders, Cubs, Soriano, Gonzalez | Main | Rakuten Eagles To Sign Casey McGehee »

News out of the American League East..

The Red Sox would possibly give up Franklin Morales or Alfredo Aceves in a deal for Pirates closer Joel Hanrahan, according to Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe. The Pirates, however, may be thinking more along the lines of Felix Doubront, which would be a deal-breaker, according to a major league source. Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com first reported Boston's interest in Hanrahan.
The Red Sox had some inquiries on Jarrod Saltalamacchia, but it appears that they may go to spring training with three catchers, plus Mike Napoli, if that deal gets done, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com tweets. Boston also has free agent pickup David Ross and Ryan Lavarnway slotted in at the catcher position.
The Rangers' signing of A.J. Pierzynski could shake the catching market loose and spark trade interest in Saltalamacchia for the Red Sox, tweets Brian MacPherson of The Providence Journal. Pierzynski and Texas agreed to a one-year deal earlier this evening.
The Yankees did not make an offer to Pierzynski, according to Heyman (via Twitter). The Bombers' plan at present is to go with a combination of Francisco Cervelli, Chris Stewart, and Austin Romine behind the plate. The Yanks were known to have interest in Pierzynski but were said to be wary of his defense.

Rakuten Eagles To Sign Casey McGehee

« AL East Notes: Red Sox, Saltalamacchia, Yankees | Main | Mets Interested In Young, Marcum, Capuano, Harang »

Free agent infielder Casey McGehee has agreed to play in Japan for the Rakuten Eagles, according to multiple Japanese reports (via Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker). Within this Sankei/MSN report Rakuten scouting director Hiroshi Abei acknowledges the sides have agreed to a deal, pending a physical. McGehee, a Meister Sports Management client, will earn $1.3MM on a one-year contract.

McGehee spent this past season with the Pirates and Yankees, appearing in 114 games. The 30-year-old posted a .217/.284/.358 batting line with nine home runs and 16 doubles in 352 plate appearances while playing first base, second base and third base. He earned $2.54MM in 2012 and elected free agency in October.

Earlier in the offseason, the Eagles added another prominent former MLB player, agreeing to a deal with Andruw Jones.

Mets Interested In Young, Marcum, Capuano, Harang

« Rakuten Eagles To Sign Casey McGehee | Main

The Mets are exploring trades and contacting free agents as they look to add depth to a rotation that no longer includes R.A. Dickey, Ken Davidoff of the New York Post reports. The Mets have reached out to many free agent starters, including Chris Young and Shaun Marcum. Davidoff reported yesterday that the Mets are also interested in free agents Carl Pavano and Francisco Liriano.

The Mets have interest in Dodgers starters Chris Capuano and Aaron Harang, Davidoff reports (Twitter link). The Dodgers figure to trade at least one starting pitcher after signing Zack Greinke, so Capuano or Harang could be dealt. The Mets have engaged the Dodgers in trade talks about their starting pitching depth, according to the Post.

GM Sandy Alderson continues searching for a right-handed hitting outfielder, Davidoff writes. The Mets would prefer to add an outfielder capable of playing right field so they can move Lucas Duda to left. Scott Hairston and Cody Ross are potential targets for the Mets. However signing those players could be challenging, since the Mets have approximately $10MM to spend.

Kamis, 20 Desember 2012

Strong Progress For Cubs, Edwin Jackson

« Quick Hits: Rangers, Mariners, Morales, Smoak | Main | Cubs To Sign Carlos Villanueva »

The Cubs are the frontrunners for free agent right-hander Edwin Jackson, but as of last night they weren't the only team pursuing the Legacy Sports Group client. The Indians were still talking with Jackson yesterday, and it wasn't long ago that the Rangers and Padres had serious interest, too. The bidding is up to $50MM for Jackson, who turned 29 in September. Here are the latest Jackson-related rumors, with the most recent updates up top...

The Cubs have made "strong progress" on a four-year, $52MM deal with Jackson, ESPN.com's Buster Olney reports (Twitter links). Jackson is just about off of the board, Olney adds.

Quick Hits: Rangers, Mariners, Morales, Smoak

« Rockies Re-Sign Jeff Francis | Main | Strong Progress For Cubs, Edwin Jackson »

What would a contract extension for Mike Trout look like? Though the Angels aren't currently discussing a long-term deal with their 21-year-old star, it's a topic that will come up eventually. Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports examines the question with the help of MLB agents, executives and players, and hears estimates from $60-250MM, with most suggested deals falling in the $100-150MM range. Check out Passan's entire piece for a thorough exploration of what it would mean to lock Trout up.

Now for some more links as Wednesday turns into Thursday...

Mark Feinsand of The New York Daily News hears the Mariners and Rangers both prefer power over speed as they look to add offense (Twitter link). Seattle acquired Kendrys Morales on Wednesday.
Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik told Geoff Baker of The Seattle Times that talks about Morales started after texting Angels GM Jerry Dipoto to congratulate him on the Josh Hamilton signing.
ESPN's Buster Olney speculates (on Twitter) that Justin Smoak could be a fit for the Orioles. Some folks with Baltimore like his swing, and Smoak could be expendable following the Morales pickup.
Free agent right-hander Brett Myers wants to start again and remains an interesting free agent option in the view of FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal (Twitter link).
The Rockies are looking to add another reliever, Troy Renck of the Denver Post reports (on Twitter). Colorado had interest in Mike Adams before the right-hander signed with the Phillies.
The Pirates are interested in Rick Porcello, but the Tigers don't want to trade the 23-year-old right-hander straight up for reliever Joel Hanrahan, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports (on Twitter).

Mike Axisa contributed to this post.

Cubs To Sign Carlos Villanueva

« Strong Progress For Cubs, Edwin Jackson | Main

The Cubs have agreed to sign Carlos Villanueva, reports Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (Twitter links). The SFX client obtains a two-year, $10MM deal, Heyman reports.

Uspw_6496000 Chicago has sought out rotation depth this offseason, and they've already signed Scott Baker and Scott Feldman as our Free Agent Tracker shows. They also made a run at Anibal Sanchez and are reportedly a final suitor for Edwin Jackson. Villanueva, Baker, and Feldman will join rotation incumbents Jeff Samardzija, Matt Garza, and Travis Wood.

Villanueva, 29, pitched to a 4.16 ERA with 8.8 K/9 and 3.3 BB/9 in 125 1/3 innings spread across 16 starts and 22 relief appearances for the Blue Jays last season. He's made 29 starts and 42 relief appearances over the last two seasons and has proven capable in both roles. Earlier this offseason we heard Villanueva was reportedly seeking the opportunity to make 30 starts next season, an opportunity the Cubs can provide.

MLBTR's Tim Dierkes ranked Villanueva as the 29th best free agent on the market this offseason, predicting he would sign with the Royals. To see where you stand in our Free Agent Prediction Contest, check out our leaderboard.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Rabu, 19 Desember 2012

Quick Hits: Mickelson, Jackson, Hamilton, Tigers

« Mariners Notes: Swisher, Bourn, Prospects | Main | Team Facebook/Twitter/RSS »

As the newly-signed Hiroyuki Nakajima becomes a comic hit during his introductory press conference with the A's, here's the latest from around baseball...

Phil Mickelson will not be part of the Padres' ownership group, reports Tod Leonard of the San Diego Union-Tribune. The golf star said he isn't "able to make that kind of long-term commitment to the city and to the team."
It doesn't seem logical for the Rangers to give Edwin Jackson (what would have to be) a four-year, $50MM contract, opines MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan. We heard earlier tonight that the Rangers and Cubs were the final two contenders for Jackson's services.
Major League Baseball has ruled that the $2MM the Angels will donate to Josh Hamilton's charitable foundation will count towards the team's luxury tax payments and be counted as "noncash compensation," reports The Associated Press. FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal noted the charitable portion of Hamilton's contract earlier today.
It can be difficult for players to mentally adjust to the "baseball limbo" that is the offseason rumor mill, ESPN's Jerry Crasnick writes.
Money has been no object for Tigers owner Mike Ilitch as he pursues a World Series title, but ESPN's Buster Olney wonders if the Tigers' next owner will be able to keep the club's payroll in the $150MM range given the limitations of Detroit's market. (An ESPN Insider subscription is required to read Olney's column.)
Nick Swisher will not be visiting the Giants during his tour of potential destinations, tweets Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle. With the Giants not having enough payroll space left to pursue Swisher, I think we can finally put this rumor to bed.
The Twins and Carl Pavano don't appear to be a fit, MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger writes. The two sides met during the Winter Meetings and though Pavano has pitched well in Minnesota, he turns 37 in January and missed most of last season with an injured shoulder. I agree with Bollinger that the Twins would probably want a more reliable option than Pavano given that several other projected members of the Twins rotation are also coming back from injuries.
Baseball people suggest Trevor Bauer has a better chance of becoming an impact player than Didi Gregorius, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic writes. The Diamondbacks sent Bauer to the Indians last week in the three-team deal that brought Gregorius to Arizona. As Piecoro explains in detail, however, there were some questions about Bauer's personality and his ability to be a team player.

MLBTR's Ben Nicholson-Smith contributed to this post

New York Notes: Mets, Ibanez, Hairston

« Team Facebook/Twitter/RSS | Main

As the Yankees take aim at a third consecutive AL East title, the Mets are working toward their first division title since 2006. Here's the latest on New York's two MLB teams...

While Sandy Alderson and the Mets appears to have done well to obtain top prospects Travis d'Arnaud and Noah Syndergaard for R.A. Dickey, the GM will ultimately be assessed by how those players fare at the MLB level, Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes. Sherman shows that the prospects traded for Cy Young winners haven't done particularly well in the Major Leagues in recent years.
Yankees GM Brian Cashman said he's open to talking to free agents or discussing trades with other clubs, George A. King III of the New York Post reports. The GM confirmed that he continues talking to Raul Ibanez and his agent, but declined to discuss his interest in free agent outfielder Scott Hairston. Ibanez could become the Yankees' DH and Hairston could balance out the team's lefty-heavy outfield.

Selasa, 18 Desember 2012

MLBTR's Extension Tracker

« Quick Hits: Mets, Anibal, Brewers, Bourjos | Main | Dodgers Shopping Andre Ethier »

Contract extensions are all about comparables, especially when it comes to arbitration eligible players. Coming up with the relevant position, salary and service time data would have been a serious obstacle for most observers until MLBTR introduced an Extension Tracker.

The tracker shows all contract extensions, whether they cover the player's arbitration years, free agent years, or both. All the extensions are listed by date, and our filter button allows you to change the date range. You can also filter by any combination of team, position, guaranteed years, amount in millions, number of options, service time, super two status, and agency. The service time filtering allows you to choose one or both boundaries of a range. Service time is denoted as years.days, so 4.148 means four years and 148 days. The player name is hyperlinked to MLBTR's post on the story of the extension.

For example, if you wanted to put Santiago Casilla's recent contract extension in context, it'd be possible to determine if there's been another multiyear extension worth $10MM or more for a right-handed setup man with five or more years of service time since 2009. As the Tracker shows, Ryan Madson's 2009 deal with the Phillies resembles the deal Casilla and the Giants just agreed to sign.

The extension tracker can be found under the Tools menu in the navigation bar up top, along with our 2013 Free Agent Tracker, Arbitration Tracker, Non-Tender Tracker, Agency Database and Transaction Tracker.

Quick Hits: Mets, Anibal, Brewers, Bourjos

« Minor Moves: Luis Rodriguez, Aneury Rodriguez | Main | MLBTR's Extension Tracker »

MLBTR's Ben Nicholson-Smith and Jason Martinez of MLB Depth Charts discussed the R.A. Dickey trade, the Josh Hamilton signing, the Anibal Sanchez deal and the latest rumors on todays' edition of the Rosters & Rumblings podcast. Click here to listen in, and continue reading for the latest from around the league...

The Mets are closing in on adding an outfielder, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post. Puma's source tells him that the player hasn't previously been linked to the Mets (Twitter links). Puma doesn't specify if the acquisition would come via free agency or trade. New York has previously been linked to Cody Ross, which seems to rule him out.
Sanchez's agent, Gene Mato, told Anthony Fetch of the Detroit Free Press that Sanchez left a larger offer from an unnamed team on the table at the Winter Meetings. The right-hander didn't want to make his decision based solely on money but also on where he felt comfortable.
Brewers general manager Doug Melvin told Jim Bowden of MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM that his team is interested in Jon Rauch, Jason Frasor, Kyle Farnsworth and Mike Gonzalez (Twitter link).
Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald tweets that the Marlins aren't particularly interested in Peter Bourjos because they'd prefer a better hitting outfielder. Earlier today it was reported that the Fish may be interested in Bourjos.
Some teams aren't convinced that Hiroyuki Nakajima's glove is good enough to play shortstop at the Major League level, tweets Buster Olney of ESPN. The Japanese slugger signed with the Athletics earlier today.
Former Cubs coach Pat Listach has been hired by the Dodgers as the team's new minor league infield coordinator, according to Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune (on Twitter).

Dodgers Shopping Andre Ethier

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Six months after extending Andre Ethier, the Dodgers are considering trading him. The Dodgers are shopping Ethier, and could be a suitor for Nick Swisher if they complete a trade, Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News reports (on Twitter).

Ethier will earn $85MM from 2013-17 after signing a five-year deal with the Dodgers this past June. Ethier's deal took place soon after Guggenheim Baseball Management gained control of the team, and foreshadowed the aggressive spending that would take place in the months that followed. The Dodgers acquired Carl Crawford, Adrian Gonzalez and Josh Beckett from the Red Sox in a midseason trade, taking on approximately $260MM in the process. Then, once the offseason began, they spent aggressively on international free agents and landed the top pitcher available, signing Zack Greinke for $147MM.

While recent history suggests the team can afford to spend big on Swisher, GM Ned Colletti would need to create roster space for him. Swisher, a client of MVP Sports Group, is two years older than the 30-year-old Ethier. A switch-hitter, Swisher doesn't have the same pronounced platoon splits Ethier does. While Ethier thrives against right-handers and struggles against left-handers, Swisher has a career OPS of .820 against right-handers and a career OPS of .842 against left-handers.

The Indians met with Swisher last night and the Red Sox, Phillies, Mariners, Rangers, and Orioles have also been linked to him. Some of these teams could have interest in trading for Ethier, particularly if the Dodgers are willing to cover some salary to facilitate a deal.

Swisher ranked sixth on MLBTR's top 50 free agent list. He obtained a qualifying offer from the Yankees, which means he's linked to draft pick compensation.

Senin, 17 Desember 2012

KBO Teams To Sign Eveland, Richmond

« MLBTR Originals | Main | Week In Review: 12/9/12 - 12/15/12 »

The Korean Baseball Organization has added depth to its top league by attracting two MLB pitchers to take their talents to Korea this season. Scott Richmond, formerly of the Blue Jays, has signed with the Lotte Giants to a one-year, $600K deal, reports Naver, a Korean news service. Joining Richmond in Korea will be former Orioles pitcher, Dana Eveland, who has agreed to a contract with the Hanwha Eagles, according to Naver.

Richmond, 33, will provide the Giants with his 6-foot-5 frame and his 7.4 K/9 ratio which may even improve once he arrives in Korea. Unfortunately the native Canadian has only pitched in four Major League games since 2009. The Giants will turn to Richmond to provide strength to their rotation, which means he could get an extended look even if he begins to struggle.

Eveland, 29, has played consistently in the big leagues since 2005 but saw 2012 as a struggle that may have led to his decision to head to Korea. Both a starter and a reliever, Eveland enjoyed his season in 2008 with the A's as he posted a 4.34 ERA with 6.3 K/9 and 4.1 BB/9. Eveland earned $750K with the Orioles last season, points out MASNSports.com's Roch Kubatko, but the left-hander is only scheduled to take home $675K in Korea.

Week In Review: 12/9/12 - 12/15/12

« KBO Teams To Sign Eveland, Richmond | Main | Red Sox To Sign Stephen Drew »

With yet another crazy week of hot stove madness, let's step away from the action to catch up on the week that was here at MLBTR...

For the second time in as many offseasons, the Angels signed the top free agent position player to a surprising long-term contract. The Angels officially signedJosh Hamilton a five-year contract worth $125MM.
Zack Greinke signed with the Dodgers to a six-year, $147MM deal as he'll remain in Los Angeles. The 2009 AL Cy Young Award winner pitched to a 3.48 ERA with 8.5 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 in 212 1/3 innings split between the Brewers and Angels in 2012, his fourth 200+ inning season in the last five years.
Kansas City agreed to acquire right-hander James Shields, right-hander Wade Davis and a player to be named or cash from Tampa Bay in exchange for outfielder Wil Myers, right-hander Jake Odorizzi, left-hander Mike Montgomery and third baseman Patrick Leonard.
The Diamondbacks acquired shortstop Didi Gregorius, left-handed pitcher Tony Sipp, and first baseman Lars Anderson from the Indians in exchange for right-handed pitchers Trevor Bauer, Matt Albers and Bryan Shaw. The Reds are receiving Shin-Soo Choo and Jason Donald in the swap and are sending Drew Stubbs to Cleveland as well.
The Dodgers signed Korean left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu for $36MM over six years. The 25-year-old has been one of the Korea Baseball Organization's most dominant pitchers over the last several years, helping Korea win Olympic gold in 2008 and finish second in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.
The Indians reached an agreement with Mark Reynolds on a one-year contract worth $6MM plus $1.5MM in potential incentives.
The Phillies agreed to sign Mike Adams to a two-year contract worth $12MM with a third-year vesting option. He pitched to a 3.27 ERA with 7.7 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9 in 52 1/3 innings for the Rangers this year.
The Phillies agreed to sign John Lannan to a one-year contract worth $2.5MM with another $2.5M in bonuses. He's thrown at least 180 total innings in each of the last five seasons and has a career 53.0% ground ball rate, which is well-above-average.
The Yankees announced that they designated left-hander Josh Spence for assignment. The move creates 40-man roster space for recently-signed infielder Kevin Youkilis.
The Tigers agreed to sign free agent right-hander Anibal Sanchez to a five-year, $80MM contract. Sanchez posted a 3.86 ERA with 7.7 K/9, 2.2 BB/9 and a 46.4% ground ball rate in 195 2/3 regular season innings this past season.
The Yankees agreed to re-sign Ichiro Suzuki to a two-year contract that will likely be worth $13MM. The 39-year-old posted a .283/.307/.390 batting line in 663 plate appearances for the Mariners and Yankees this past season.
The Cardinals agreed to sign utility player Ty Wigginton to a two-year deal worth a total of $5MM. Wigginton spent the 2012 season with the Phillies, posting a .235/.314/.375 batting line with 11 home runs and 11 doubles in 360 plate appearances.
The Braves signed infielder Ramiro Pen a to a one-year, Major League contract. Pena, 27, has made just 40 Major League plate appearances over the last two seasons and has a career .233/.266/.288 line in 338 career PAs with the Yankees since 2009.
The Red Sox agreed to sign free agent right-hander Ryan Dempster to a two-year, $26.5MM contract. Dempster, 35, posted a 3.38 ERA with 8.0 K/9, 2.7 BB/9 and a 43.5% ground ball rate in 173 innings for the Cubs and Rangers in 2012.
The Twins signed Kevin Correia to a two-year, $10MM contract. The right-hander will earn $4.5MM in 2013 and $5.5MM in 2014.
Outfielder Shane Victorino signed a three-year, $39MM deal with the Red Sox after struggling in 2012 to put up the numbers that made him a star with the Phillies. Victorino posted a .255/.321/.383 line for the Phillies and Dodgers.
Free agent infielder Jack Hannahan signed a two-year, $4MM deal with the Reds to back up Todd Frazier. In 318 plate appearances during the 2012 season, he posted a .244/.312/.341 batting line with 16 doubles.
The Giants agreed to sign Andres Torres to a one-year, $2MM contract. The 34-year-old switch hitter has a .241/.320/.388 batting line in eight career seasons at the MLB level.
The Dodgers acquired Skip Schumaker from the Cardinals in exchange for minor league shortstop Jake Lemmerman. Schumaker posted a .276/.339/.368 slash line last season in 304 plate appearances.
The Pirates signed free agent reliever Jason Grilli to a two-year, $6.75MM contract. He posted a 2.91 ERA with 13.8 K/9, 3.4 BB.9 and a 30.7% ground ball rate in 58 2/3 innings for Pittsburgh this past season.
The Reds signed free agent outfielder Ryan Ludwick to a two-year, $15MM contract with a mutual option for 2015. The 34-year-old posted a .275/.346/.531 batting line with 26 home runs in 472 plate appearances for the Reds this past season.
The Tigers agreed to a one-year contract with catcher Brayan Pena. Pena, who turns 31 next month, appeared in 68 games for the Royals in 2012, posting a .236/.262/.321 batting line in 226 plate appearances.
Jeff Keppinger greatly improved his stock in 2012, going from a non-tender a year ago to signing a three-year, $12MM contract with the White Sox. Keppinger, 32, is a career .288/.337/.396 hitter, and is coming off an excellent season with the Rays in which he posted an .806 OPS in 418 plate appearances.